Which is Healthier, Distilled Water or Purified Water?

January 7, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, while most people get their minerals from food, drinking water can contribute to daily intake. Deciding whether purified water or distilled water is healthier depends largely on your needs, diet, and intended use. While both undergo treatment to remove contaminants, their distinct processes result in key differences in mineral content and taste.

Quick Summary

This article explains the differences between distilled and purified water, examining their manufacturing processes, mineral content, and potential health effects. It provides a comprehensive comparison to help consumers decide which type of water is best for their specific health goals and lifestyle.

Key Points

Purified vs. Distilled: The key difference is mineral content; distilled water has none, while purified water often retains some beneficial minerals.
Healthier for Daily Drinking: Purified water is generally the healthier choice for regular consumption because it provides essential minerals that support bodily functions.
Distilled Water's Purpose: Distilled water is ideal for medical devices (like CPAP machines), lab use, and appliances where mineral buildup is undesirable.
Dietary Considerations: Since water is not the main source of minerals, drinking distilled water is generally safe for healthy individuals with a balanced diet.
Taste Difference: The lack of minerals gives distilled water a flat, bland taste, whereas purified water can taste crisper and fresher due to its mineral content.
Remineralization Option: Many modern reverse osmosis (RO) systems can add minerals back into purified water to improve taste and health benefits.
Safety: Both distilled and purified water are safe to drink, but potential risks from long-term, exclusive consumption of distilled water are primarily related to mineral deficiency.

Distilled Water: Absolute Purity, Missing Minerals

Distilled water is produced by boiling water and then condensing the collected steam back into a liquid. This process is highly effective at removing almost all impurities, including minerals, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals, leaving behind nearly pure H₂O. Because of its high level of purity and lack of minerals, it has a flat, bland taste that many people find unappealing.

The most significant health drawback of regularly drinking distilled water is the absence of essential minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, that the body needs. For most people on a balanced diet, this isn't a major issue as they get these nutrients from food. However, exclusive long-term consumption could, for some individuals, lead to mineral deficiencies if their diet is already lacking. This is particularly a concern for those with certain health conditions or athletes who lose electrolytes through sweat. Distilled water is therefore often reserved for specific uses where mineral-free water is essential, such as in CPAP machines, car batteries, and laboratories.

Applications Beyond Drinking

Medical Equipment: CPAP machines and autoclaves require distilled water to prevent mineral buildup and ensure sterile conditions.
Laboratory Use: Its ultra-high purity makes it ideal for lab experiments where minerals or impurities could interfere with results.
Appliances: Using distilled water in humidifiers, steam irons, and car batteries prevents scaling and corrosion, extending the life of the equipment.

Purified Water: Safe for Drinking, Retaining Some Minerals

Purified water is a broad term for water that has been treated to remove contaminants, such as chemical pollutants, metals, and bacteria. The purification process can involve various methods, including reverse osmosis (RO), deionization, and carbon filtration. To be labeled as "purified" in the U.S., the water must have a total dissolved solids (TDS) level of less than 10 parts per million (ppm).

Unlike distillation, some purification methods, such as certain RO systems, can be configured to retain or re-add some beneficial minerals. This provides a balance between removing harmful substances and maintaining a desirable mineral content. Because it contains some minerals, purified water generally has a cleaner, fresher, and less flat taste compared to distilled water, which encourages better hydration. For most daily drinking purposes, purified water is considered a healthier choice as it provides clean water while retaining some minerals that support bodily functions.

The Remineralization Factor

For those who prefer purified water from reverse osmosis systems, adding a remineralization stage can improve both the taste and mineral content. These systems can add back essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, resulting in water with a better flavor and more balanced chemistry. This is a great solution for those who want the benefits of highly purified water without the complete absence of minerals.

Purified Water vs. Distilled Water: A Comparison


Feature	Distilled Water	Purified Water
Purity Level	Removes virtually all dissolved solids and contaminants.	Removes chemicals, bacteria, and most impurities, often to a very high degree (TDS <10 ppm).
Process	Boiling water into steam, then condensing it back into liquid.	Various methods like reverse osmosis, deionization, and carbon filtration.
Mineral Content	Virtually no minerals.	Typically retains or has minerals re-added depending on the process.
Health Impact	Can lead to mineral deficiencies if consumed exclusively and diet is poor.	Generally a healthier choice for daily drinking as it can provide some essential minerals.
Taste	Flat and bland due to the absence of minerals.	Often has a cleaner, crisper taste due to mineral content.
Best For	Medical devices, lab experiments, humidifiers, and irons.	Daily drinking and cooking for most individuals.

Conclusion: Making the Healthier Choice

When evaluating which is healthier, distilled water or purified water, the answer for daily drinking for most people is overwhelmingly purified water. While distilled water is exceptionally pure and ideal for specific applications requiring mineral-free water, its complete lack of essential minerals makes it a less suitable option for regular consumption over the long term. Purified water, through methods like reverse osmosis, removes harmful contaminants while often retaining or having minerals re-added, providing a better-tasting and more nutritionally balanced option for everyday hydration. For those with a balanced diet, the impact of trace minerals from water is minor, but the cleaner taste of purified water is a pleasant bonus that can encourage better hydration habits.

World Health Organization Report on Demineralized Water

What to Look For in Your Water

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Purified water must have a TDS level of <10 ppm. Check for this on bottled water labels or with a TDS tester for home systems.
Remineralization: If using an RO system, consider one with a remineralization stage to improve taste and add beneficial minerals.
Balanced Diet: Regardless of your water choice, ensure you are getting essential minerals like calcium and magnesium from a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and dairy.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, both distilled water and purified water are safe for consumption. The "healthier" choice depends on your specific needs. For most people, purified water is the superior option for regular drinking due to its mineral content and better taste. For specialized applications that require water free of any minerals, distilled water is the clear winner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is generally safe to drink distilled water every day, especially if you have a balanced diet. However, since the distillation process removes all minerals, exclusive reliance on it for hydration could lead to mineral deficiencies over time.

Distilled water is created by boiling water into steam and then recondensing it, which leaves all solids and minerals behind. Purified water, conversely, is treated using various filtration methods like reverse osmosis or deionization, which remove contaminants but can be configured to retain some minerals.

Purified water may or may not have minerals, depending on the purification method. While most methods remove many dissolved solids, some purification systems can add beneficial minerals back into the water, a process known as remineralization.

The main concern is the absence of minerals. Some believe this can lead to mineral leaching from the body, though most nutrition comes from food. Potential health issues are linked to long-term, exclusive consumption by individuals with poor diets.

For most cooking, purified water is preferable as it retains some minerals that can enhance flavor. Distilled water is pure and tasteless, which can be useful for certain recipes that require pure water.

For most people, purified water offers a higher level of safety than tap water by removing a wider range of potential contaminants. However, tap water in many developed areas is regulated and safe to drink.

Common uses include medical equipment like CPAP machines, laboratory work, automotive cooling systems, and steam irons, where mineral-free water is necessary to prevent buildup and ensure proper function.